Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 22, 1942. E. E. MQEWAN 2,296,725

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March so, 1939 l INVE OR. 07% m) Mm 9471A) ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 22, 1942. E. E, MOEWAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March so, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 220 BY 2 4W ATTORNEY 8 Sept. 22, 1942. E, McEWAN REFR-IGERATING APPARATUS Filed March so, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g 6 1 12mm w WW ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 22, .1942. E. E. M EWAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 22, 1942. E. E. MQEWAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS- Patented Sept. 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE arraicnaama APPARATUS Eugene E. McEwan, New York, N. 1., as aignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton. Ohio,

a corporation of Delaware Application March 30, 1939, Serial No. 265,005

11- Claim This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air.

One object of this invention isto provide conditioning apparatus which may be concealed from view by means of a removable panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a special system of refrigeration suitable for installation in hotelsjofiices and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide air conditioning apparatus'for a hotel room or the like which does not require the usual form of unsightly return air grille.

Still another object of this invention is to so construct and arrange the conditioning appa- Another object of this invention is to provide an improved return air grille or panel.

Furtherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing somewhat diagrammatically one form of air conditioning apparatus mounted above the false ceiling in the foyerof a hotel suite:

' Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. '3 is a sectional-plan view'taken on line I--3ofFi .1; Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to the view shown in Fig; 1 showing the air conditioning apparatus lowered for inspection and repair purposes; I V t Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to the view in Fig. 3 showing a modified form of air conditioning equipment;

Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar to Figs..3

and 5 showinga still further modified form; and 1 Fig. 7 is an elevational view partly in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.

I In the ordinary systems for conditioning rooms in hotels and private omces, it has been customary to place the entire apparatus or at least the cooling coil directly within the conditioned space. Units mounted directly within-the room are of necessity noisy as well 'BSllIlSlghtlY and very often occupy valuable space. I have designed'a conditioning apparatus, which is suitable for mounting above a false ceiling or which may be concealed behind a wall panel or the like.

- Referring now to Fig. 1 in which I have shown one'modification of my invention, the reference character It designates a hotel room or the like, ll designates a foyer having a false ceiling l6, and I! designates the corridor having a false ceiling l5, this being a common arrangement in many hotels. With this arrangement, a person coming from the outside first enters the corridor [2 which is separated from the foyer by the usual entrance door l3. Between the foyer II and the room to there is an opening ll.

In the-modification shown in Fig. 1 the conditioning apparatus comprises a hermetically sealed'motor-compressor-cendenser unit I8 and an evaporator 20;both of which are mounted on the panel 2| which is a part'of the false ceiling It. The panel 2| is slightly smaller than the opening in which it is mounted whereby an air passage 38 is formed surrounding the panel 2!.

The hermetically sealed motor-compressor-condenser unit I8 is of the type in which the housing of the motor-compressor unit constitutes the condenser for the compressed refrigerant. Inas: much as it is not convenient to circulate outside air over'the condenser to cool the same, water pipes 22 are provided which encircle the motorcompressor-condenser housing It! and which are connected to any convenient source of cold water such as the water'mains or a .source of refrig-. erated water. The refrigerant which is evaporated in the evaporator 20 returns to the motorcompressor-condenser unit through the line 24,

,andthe condensed refrigerant is discharged from the housing ll through the line 26 which leads to the lower part of the evaporator. The usual form of thermostatic expansion valve "is provided for controlling the now of refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator. The thermostatic bulb 80 is provided for closing the expansion valve .28 in the event that liquid refrigerant enters the return line '24. Athermostat 25 lo cated so'as to be responsiveto "the room temperature starts and stops the compressor motor.

The air to be conditioned is'circulated by means ofthe fan 34 which forces the air overthe evap-..

orator and thereafter through the outlet grille 38 into the room 10. The return air from room It enters the foyer II and thereafter passes upwardly into the conditioning compartment through the passage 38 which is formed at the periphery of main panel 2|. A certain amount of outside air is permitted to enter the corridor, and from thence enters the air conditioning-compartment' lfi through. the opening ll provided directly between the corridor and the compartment ll.

In order to control the amount of outside airintroduced, I have provided a manually operated 'damper 2 in the opening ll. While, for pur-- poses of illustration, this has been shown as being manually operated, it is to be understood the water cooling coil are both-"discharged through the drain pipe 62. The water disthat this may be operated automatically in response to the dry bulb temperature, effective temperature, or moisture content of either the room air or the outside air.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to have the air conditioning apparatus readily accessible for inspection and repair, the main supporting panel 2| is'pivotally mounted bymeans'of'the trunnions 44 which are supported in the open bearlugs 48. In order to hold the panel in its operative position, I have provided latch members 41 which-latch the panel in place. By unlatching the latches 41 the main panel I! swings into the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 4. In order to facilitate the raising and lowering of the panel 2i and its associated parts, the motorcompressor-condenser unit which is the heaviest portion of the apparatus is mounted'on that end' of the panel which is most directly above the pivot. By properly placing the elements'on the panel very little effort is required to raise and charged into the drain 62 may be cooled by any suitable means and reused, or it may be discharged into the sewer .or any equivalent drain.

In certain types of installations it is more expedient to mount the motor-compressor mechanism. at a point remote from the cooling coil. In Fig. 5 I have shown a system-of this type in which a single primary refrigerating system, generally designated by the reference character III, is used for cooling water or the like in a main storage tank I02 from which the cooling fluid is circulated teens or more cooling coils Ill by means of a pump "if With this type of arrangement, the cooling fluid from the supply tank ll: maybe circulated toa plurality of individual room cooling rolls mounted in the same coil shown lnthe manner in which the cooling first modification is mounted.

For purposes of illustration, the refrigerating mechanism for cooling thewater in the main supply tank"! has been shown as comprising a compressor I" which withdrawsvaporized refrigerant from the evaporator H0 and discharges the compressed refrigerant into the condenser ll! in which the refrigerant-is condensed. The liquid refrigerant which collects in the receiver Ill flows through the line Ill leading to the evaporator and-is controlled by the'usual form of thermostatic expansion valve H8. The compressor I" is driven by means of anelectrio motor III which is started'and stopped in response to the temperature of the cooling fluid lower the panel. Inasmuch as the bearings ll are of the open ype, the entire air conditioning unit may be readily lowered from the position in which it is shown. in Fig. 4 merely by raising the apparatus, turning it slightly about its verin the main supply tank III. For purposes of "illustration, I have disclosed a temperature responsive element I22 ,which is adapted to control- .the circuit maker and,breaker I24 in the usual well-known manner.

The pump in cirdulates the cooling fluid;

I through the supply line III which leads to one or tical axis, andthen lowering it. All minor repairs may be made on the apparatus in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4. Sound insulating material II is placed on the upper side of the false ceiling ll whereby very little oi the noisejis transmitted from the conditioning compartment to the hotel room.

Inasmuch as a certain amount of condensate forms on the evaporator, it is necessary to provide means for draining the condensate which is formed from time to time. To accomplish this purpose, I have provided a condensate collecting pan II which has a drain line II. The line 2 includes a flexible portion I which may comprises-n ordinary rubber hose or the like which is of suihcientlength to permit the conditioning apparatus to swing from the position in which it is shown in Fig. l to the position in which it is: shown in Fig.1

pipes. Inasmuchas water is circulated through the cooling coil 2!, it is also necessary to provide the cooling coil inlet and outlet'pipes with each a. section'of flexible tubing II which is similarly held in place by means of clamps such as It. Inasmuch as it may be desirable at times to completely dis-' 1 connect thew'ater coil fromthe supply lines, a

without disconnecting the drain line. 1

more cooling coils such as cooling coil llll which' is carried directly by the ceiling panel- I28 corresponding to the ceiling panel 2! shown in the first modification. The cooling fluid leav'iri'g'the coil I" is returned to the main supply tank It! by means of the pipe line III, and the condensate water is of in the same manner in which the condensate water is d sposed of in the first modification; namely, by discharging into a drain "I. The various pipe lines may be placed in the space above the false ceiling or may be imbedded directly in the walls. The cooling coil I together with the associated ducts,'etc., all of which are similar to the ducts shown in Figs.

'1 through-4 maybelnspected'and servicedin from the city maim in those installations where shufiofl valve II has been provided in the main supply line whereby the water supply may 'be -lhut ofi' before disconnecting the flexible tubing It. condensate and the waste water from this modification,

cums available v l'o l nsthe solenoid .the coil lM.-' I

this water or a similar source ofcold water is III is providedin the conditioned space for con- In Figs. modified g is directly suspended from the main ceilover the coil-Itchy means of; fan!" is also supported from the ceiling "2. In a false ceiling similar to the whidl for coolingv m A thermostat Y valve ill at o and an." s-susnuy' arrangementinwhichtheroomcoolins andinwh'ichthe'airiseib' false ceiling shown in the other modifications is provided which comprises a pivotally mounted panel :205 corresponding to the panel 2| shown in Fig. 1. The panel 206 is slightly smaller than the opening in the ceiling in which it is mounted so as to provide an air intake opening 208 similar to the air intake openings shown in the other modifications. The panel 286, however, has none of the air conditioning mechanism supported thereon. -As in the vother modifications, sound insulating material such as 201 is secured to one side of the panel 206. v

"The cooling coil 20!! may be supplied with a volatile refrigerant or it may be supplied with any suitable cooling fiuid such as precooled water or ordinary tap water. The cooling medium is supplied to the coil 20!! through the feeder pipe 209 which is connected to the branch line-2L0 leading to the cooling coil 20!! and is discharged from the cooling coil through the line 212 which leads to the main return line 2 IS. The condensate is discharged into the drain 2ll.by means of the drain pipe 2H5 which leads from the condensate collecting pan 2" to the main drain pipe 2".

In this modification, as in the prior'modifications described, the air to be conditioned enters the compartment above the false ceiling panel 208 through the rectangular opening .or slot 208.

A certain amount of corridor air may enter through the opening 220 in the same manner as in the other modifications. The air to be conditioned which enters the space above the panel v206 is caused to circulate over the coil 200 and is thereafter discharged into the main room through the duct 222. The valves 224 and 226 have been provided so as to make it possible to shut off the flow of cooling'inedium through the cooling coil and, if necessary, disconnect the cooling coil from the main supply lines. The fiow of cooling fluid through coil 2" is controlled by the solenoid valve 250. Thermostat 252 located in the conditioned space controls the operation of the valve 250.

In each of the modifications the arrangement is such that sound insulation maybe used to the best advantage without interfering with the operation and efficiency of the device. Thus, in the modification shown in Figs. 6 and I, the coil 200 as well as the fan 2M'are mounted within the chamber 230' which is lined with sound insulating material 232. Similar sound insulating material may be provided in the other modifications. By providing sound insulating material around the fan unit as well as on the upper side of the ceiling panel a very quiet conditioning unit is provided.

For simplicity of illustration'the air circulating fans have not been shown as being undercontrol of the room thermostats since these fans may be operated continuously. However, manual and/or automatic controls responsive to. the psychrometric condtion of the. air in the conditioned, space may be used for starting and stopping each fan.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: 1. In combination with a room or the .like, a .main supporting panel, a volatile refrigerant evaporator supported on said panel, refrigerant liquefying means for supplying refrigerant to said evaporator supported on said panel, a in one wall of said room havin an opening slightly v' larger than said panel; means for supporting said panel substantially centrally of said. opening whereby an air passage is formed between said panel and the edges of said opening and whereby said evaporator and liquefying means are concealed from view, and means for circulatin air I I said vair passage into thermal exchange with aid. evaporator back from said room throu into-said room. I

2. In. combination with a' room or. the like,

a main supporting panel, a volatile-refrigerant evaporator supported on .said panel, refrigerant liquefying means for supplying refrigerant to said-evaporator supported on said panel, a recess in one wall of said room having an opening slightly larger than said panel, means for supporting said panel substantially centrally of said culating air from said room through said air passage into thermal exchange with said evaporator and back into'said room, and a layer of sound insulating material between said panel and said air circulating means.

3. In a hotel or'the like having a plurality of adjoining rooms; air conditioning and circulating apparatus disposed within one of said rooms adjacent the ceiling thereof; a false ceiling below' said apparatus for enclosing and concealing the same from view; said falseceiling comprising a border portion, a ubstantially centrally disposed panel section and a narrow air passage formed around the outer edges of said panel, section whereby air to be conditioned may pass upwardly through said passage-and into said conditioning compartment; means for discharging theconditioned air into a room adjoining said one room;

said air conditioning and circulating apparatus comprising a volatile refrigerant evaporator and a refrigerant liquefyingunit for supplying refrigerant to said evaporator; and means for circulating air from said room in thermal exchange with said evaporator; said refrigerant evaporator, liquefying unit and fan being directly supported n by said panel section.

4. Ina hotel or the like having a foyer between the main corridor and a room the air of.

panel member slightly smaller than said opening substantially centrally disposed within said opening whereby an air' passage is formed between said panel and the outer extremity of said opening, means for circulating air. to be conditioned upwardly through said passage into thermal exchange with a portion of said apparatus and thereafter back into said room, said air conditioning apparatus comprising a volatile refrigerant evaporator, and a refrigerant-liquefying unit for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator. 1

5. In a hotel or the like having a foyer between the main corridor and a room the air of which is to be conditioned, air conditioning apparatus disposed adjacent the ceiling of said foyer, a false ceiling below said conditioning apparatus, an access' opening 'in said false ceiling, a panel member slightly smaller than said opening substantially centrally disposed within said opening whereby an air passage is formed between said panel and the outer extremity of said opening, means for circulating air to be conditioned upwardly through said passage into thermal exchange with a portion of said apparatus and thereafter back into said room, said air conditioning apparatus comprising a cooling coil arranged in the path of the air circulated by said air circulating means.

'6. In a hotel or the likehaving a foyer between the main corridor and a room the air of which is'to be conditioned, air conditioning apparatus disposed adjacent the ceiling of said foyer, a false ceiling below said conditioning apparatus, an access openingin said false ceiling, a panel member slightly smaller than said open- 'ing substantially centrally disposed within said opening whereby an air passage is formed be-' tween said panel and the outer extremity of said opening, and means for circulating air to be conditioned upwardly through said passage into thermal exchange with a portion of said apparatus and thereafter back into said'room.

7; In a hotel or the like having a pluralityoi adjoining rooms; air conditioning and circulating apparatus disposed within one of said rooms adjacent the ceiling thereof a false ceiling below said apparatus for enclosing and concealing the same from view; said false ceiling comprising a border portion, a substantially centrally disposed panel section and a narrow air passage formed around the outer edges of said panelsection whereby air to be conditioned may pass upwardly through said passage and'into said conditioning compartment; and means for discharging the conditioned air into a room adjoining said one room.

8. In combination with a room or the like hav ing a raise ceiling port-ion, an air conditioning compartment disposed above said false ceiling, air conditioning means within said compartment, an access opening in said false-ceiling between said room and said compartment, a removable panel slightly smaller than said opening disposed within said openingfor concealing said apparatus and for separating said room from said compartment, and means for circulating airto be-conditioned from said room through the space between said panel and said opening, over said air conditioning/means and returning the same to said room.

. bet,- thence in thermal exchange with said cooling coil and back into said room.

10. In combination with a room or the like having a false ceiling portion, an air conditioning compartment disposed above said false ceiling,

'sorbing panel member smaller than the opening air conditioning means within said compartment, an access opening in said false ceiling between said room and said compartment, a re movable panel slightly smaller than said opening disposed within said opening for concealing said apparatus and for separating. said room from said compartment,- means for circulating air to be conditioned from said room through the space between said panel and said opening over said air conditioning means and returning the same to said room, and means located remote from said air conditioning means for supplying anair cooling liquid to said air conditioning means.

11. An air conditioning panel unit .for a room, or the like, comprising in combination, a wall portion having an opening therein, a sound abdisposed substantially centrally within said opening and having a ilat surface substantially in I alignment with said wall portion, means for conditioning .air mounted on the back of said'panel member, said means comprising a cooling coil and means for circulating air to be conditioned from said room through the opening formed around the periphery or said panel" member, theme in thermal exchange with said cooling coil and back into said room, andmeans-located remote from said cooling coil for refrigerating water and for circulating said refriger-I ated water between said cooling coil and said refrigerating means.

v EUGENE i'LMcEwAN. 

